This post is sponsored by The Laughing Cow® and features a fun giveaway that I assembled myself that I hope you guys will love! I am an official brand advocate for The Laughing Cow® in 2014 and while I receive compensation for participation, opinions are my own. I hope you enjoy this post and thanks so much for your support!
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you likely already know that I consider myself a very fast eater. (Remember this blog post when I talked about some of the methods Ryan and I use to try to prolong our dinner dates!?) Slowing down and savoring my food takes effort on my part. I’ve always been a really fast eater and for as long as I can remember, I’ve been one of the first people to clear my plate in almost any social setting.
When The Laughing Cow® reached out to me about their new initiative that centers around savoring snack time, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I know I personally could stand to slow down and enjoy my food a little more and this seemed like a good push to brainstorm ways to make myself take a moment and enjoy what I’m eating.
Below you will find some tips and tricks I’ve been trying to practice during snack and meal times to help me appreciate what I’m eating and actually experience food rather than just inhaling it all the time. I’ve also featured some food pairings with The Laughing Cow Cheeses to give you some snack time inspiration!
Simple Tips for Savoring Snack Time
- Step Away from Electronic Distractions
All too often I’ll eat when I’m working at the computer and look up and think to myself, “I don’t even remember tasting that meal!” What a shame! I never watch TV during the day, but I am on the computer all the time. I also check my phone a lot since I use it to respond to emails, blog comments and other work-related tasks. By stepping away from electronic distractions, I feel much more in the moment and this makes me concentrate on tasting and savoring my snacks and meals.
Crisp Apple Slices + Roasted Almonds + The Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese Wedges
- Place My Fork Down In Between Bites
This is a tip I read in a magazine years ago that really does work. I tend to shovel food in my mouth a little too quickly, and taking the time to put down my fork or spoon in between bites extends mealtime a little bit and allows me to think more about what I’m eating and enjoy it.
Cucumber Slices + The Laughing Cow Creamy Swiss Garlic & Herb Cheese Wedges + Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Enjoy A Snack with a Mug of Hot Tea
This is something I tend to do at breakfast time that makes my morning meal last a little longer, so I tried extending it to snack time and it really does help! If I fix myself an afternoon snack and a hot cup of tea, I’m much more likely to sit down and enjoy my snack rather than grabbing it and stuffing it into my mouth while I’m on the go. Which leads me to my next bullet point…
Gluten-Free Almond Crackers + Ham Pinwheels + The Laughing Cow Creamy White Cheddar Cheese Wedges + Cracked Pepper
- Sit Down
I am the queen of eating at the kitchen counter. When I make myself grab a plate or a bowl and take my snack to the table, it seems to send a message to my brain that this is a time I need to chill out and enjoy what I’m eating rather than eat something as fast as possible before it’s onto the next thing.
Fresh Strawberries + Pretzel Crisps + The Laughing Cow Creamy Light Swiss Cheese Wedges
- Break the Routine
I tend to eat the same snacks over and over again until I get sick of them and discover something new. When I take the time to get a little creative in the kitchen and try something new, I find that I’m a lot more likely to notice and enjoy what I am eating.
And now it’s giveaway time!
I have personally assembled a giveaway worth $300 for one PBF reader to win! I tried to select items to help you kick back and relax a bit so you can thoroughly savor your meals and snacks!
This giveaway includes:
- $100 lululemon gift card – For you to pick up some super cute, comfy lounge-worthy apparel that you can also wear in public
- Cable knit throw from Pottery Barn – To curl up with while you enjoy a delicious snack this winter
- Le Creuset tea kettle (color of your choice) – To brew a hot beverage to sip while you eat
- Anthropologie mug with your initial – So you can sip your tea in style
- Snack Time Kit from The Laughing Cow
To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment below telling me about one of the tricks you use to encourage yourself to slow down and savor your food or tell me about your favorite snack!
I will randomly select a winner on Friday.
Good luck!
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My favorite snack lately is oyster crackers dipped into laughing cow Swiss. Delicious!
I’ve been trying to unplug when I eat. I work at home so I often eat at my desk while working and then I just shovel it in. So if I step away from my desk it helps!
favorite snack is greek yogurt!
I LOVE the laughing cow swiss cheese on celery!
I work in an office where I see patients nearly all day. I do occasionally have a break in the afternoon where I can enjoy a snack. I make sure I have enough time to enjoy my snack before I dig in – not when I only have 5 minutes before my next appointment!
Otherwise, I wait until my work day is done and I can really enjoy my bites before the gym. Sometimes I eat it in my office or even in the parking lot of my gym.
But never while I’m driving or I never enjoy it!!
Eating a lunch with more protein helps me stave off hunger so I’m not starving when gym-time rolls around.
My favorite snack is either peanut butter and jelly toast, or yogurt sprinkled with trail mix! What I do to slow down is sip a glass of water with my meals and make sure that when I am eating, I am focusing only on the meal – no computer or tv to distract me!
This is an awesome giveaway package! I love your blog 🙂
I’m a fast eater too! I live alone and often find myself eating dinner in front of the TV (even though I have a perfectly good table to eat at!). One of my favorite snacks is an apple with cheese, and I love Laughing Cow brand! Thanks for the awesome giveaway 😀
I have been trying to sit at the kitchen or dining room table more with a candle lit & no phone, laptop, or tv on. This way I can talk to my husband about our day and really enjoy the food in front of us.
I’m a new mom, so while this was never an issue for me before, it is now!! So that I can enjoy my free time, I make sure everything is done for the baby FIRST…feed, change, and then let her go to town with a toy while I take a break.
Amazing giveaway! My favorite snack is cheese and crackers or peanut butter with apple slices.
My favorite snacks tend to involve peanut butter and I’ve been loving the in season honey crisp apples with natural peanut butter lately!
I actually love to read or watch TV shows involving food while I snack. While it doesn’t make me eat less (probably more), it does make me slow down. My favorite snack would be really chewy oatmeal cookies with peanut butter or almond butter slathered on them, with lots of 2% milk. Would love to win this giveaway to give to my daughter who is a first year college student. What a great care package this would make!
I am totally guilty of housing food as well! I try to put my fork down inbetween bites (especially at restaurants). I also try to sit down while eating, which does help keep me from mindless eating/snacking.
I have a bad habit of multitasking while I eat (making phone calls, checking email, eating lunch at my desk while I continue to work). So I try to make a conscious effort to focus on my food while I eat so that I enjoy and and don’t just shove it in my face while I do something else. I also try to snack so that I don’t end up super hungry because then I eat like a ravenous wolverine and don’t really enjoy it.
My favorite snack is cottage cheese with tomato slices. And my trick to eating less is drinking carbonated water whenever I am craving junk food.
Lately I have been unplugging and actually using my kitchen table. It’s amazing how much more I focus on what I am eating and really savoring the meal instead of mindlessly shoving food into my mouth while watching tv.
A tip that really helps me slow down while eating is taking sips of water in between it definitely makes a break between bites easier to do. Something else my mom taught me that’s very helpful is if your eating dinner with someone to try to keep conversing while eating, some people don’t like it but I just love to talk lol!
This is one of my BIGGEST problems, too! My mom actually made up a song for me when I was a kid that she would sing me at dinner! “Slow down, you eat too fast, you’ve got to make your dinner la-ast”. LOL Still an issue. I definitely try to put my fork down- that seems to help me the most. Being a super fast eater is something I am self-conscious about, so I have been trying to work on it!
My favorite snack is carrots sticks with hummus or cottage cheese, so good!
My favorite snack is fresh yogurt will almonds mixed in. Delicious!
Drinking hot tea or some La Croix with my food always seems to help slow me down! And portioning out the food instead of grabbing the whole bag/jar/whatever. If I know it’s going to “run out,” I definitely make a more concerted effort to enjoy!
Whenever I snack at work I make an effort to step away from work and maybe browse online on my phone, anything that is more relaxing than my work.
I’ve been trying the trick of putting my fork down in between bites and taking sips of water. I also try to make a conscious effort to really think about what I’m eating so I enjoy it more. That said, when my husband is housing his plate of food, it makes it harder for me to slow down too haha!
I work in an office, so I’m generally sitting most of the day. Lately – while the weather is still nice outside – I take my snacks outside and sit on a bench for 15 minutes. It’s nice to step away from the computer and get some fresh air (while also munching on some yummy, healthy snacks). I use laughing cow cheese in soooo many things. Lately I’ve been on an omelette and stuffed mushroom kick. So good! PS – the new pepper jack one is delicious!
my favorite snack is a handful of nuts and raisins. I also love to have apple with peanut/almond butter. All basic but so good!
My favorite snack is a “waffle sandwich” – two Van’s Power Grains waffles with light Cool Whip and chocolate PB2 in the middle. It’s so delicious and satisfying!!
I try to step away from the electronics as well. If I’m at the office, I’ll slide back from my desk and try to just enjoy a few bites and a moment away! It also helps if I plan my snacks in the morning. Then I’m looking forward to it and ready to savor the goodness!
I’m a pretty slow eater to start with but I do tend to eat snacks pretty quickly. My go to snack is usually popcorn and I used to shovel it in by the handful! I started eating just one piece at a time and it’s helped me slow down and savor and also not eat as much!
I make myself plate everything, and sit down at the dining table with some drink (water, tea, whatever the moment calls for) in a real glass or mug. This makes me focus on tasting the food, not just filling my belly.
My favorite snack is a string cheese with smoked almonds.
What a great giveaway! Love The Laughing Cow. Some of my favorite snacks involve their wedges. I’m naturally a slow eater, always have been. My family makes fun of me for it, ha!
My fav snack is laughing cow (any flavor!) with crunchmasters crackers! So good!!
Your pinwheels look really tasty too, I’m trying those next time!
What an awesome giveaway! I love Laughing Cow. My favorite snacks are Laughing Cow cheese on thin crackers, or apple slices with peanut butter. I’m a fast eater too, but one of my tricks for slowing down is taking a sip of water in between bites. This helps me a LOT when I’m eating at a restaurant and want to take my time!
My favorite is to take my snack out on my screen porch and enjoy a bit of the day while I snack. We just moved a few months ago so the screen porch is still such a treat I’m using every excuse to enjoy it before it’s gets too cold!
My favorite snack…Pretzel Crisps and sour cream!
I like to sit on the front porch swing with my kids!
My favorite snack lately is an apple with peanut butter or a cup of hot chocolate
Rice cakes with a laughing cow wedge spread on top 🙂
I love the Laughing Cow cheese and cucumber idea! I tend to eat snacks to fast too, or forget to bring one to work and wind up starving at dinner. Thanks for the ideas!
I love the laughing cow. Their new peper jack flavor is awesome. One of the ways i try to savor snack time is to not do anything else while i am eating. It’s a hard habit to break but i too have gone though an entire meal without tasting it. One of my favorite snacks is carrot sticks and hummus. I also love the laughing cow wedges on a piece of wheat toast with thin cucumber slices and baby spinach
I’ve been trying to sloowww down the chewing process, to eat slower. My favourite snack is usually an apple (mmm local honeycrisps right now!) with almond butter.
My favorite snack is melted string cheese on a Flatout flat bread, folded in half.
My favorite snack is apple slices with peanut butter
Rice cake with a laughing cow wedge spread on top! yum :))
Nearly every day I eat an apple (sliced – I hate biting into a whole apple) with almond butter and a hot mug of green tea. Slowly sipping on the hot tea and eating the apple slices in between sips really helps me slow down and enjoy what I’m eating!
I eat at the dining room table and make sure to avoid watching TV or any other distraction that would take away from the meal.
My favorite snack is hummus…. Usually with a veggie and a few pita chips.
I was once told to chew eat bite 15-20 times. Not only does this slow you down, but it helps with digesting your food as well!
Bars are definitely my favorite snack. I love them all: quest, Luna, Lara, think thin… I don’t discriminate 🙂
My favorite snack is almond butter with granny smith apples